Fluid Thrust Ball Bearings

If you've been using thrust bearings in your machinery for a while, you may be wondering why they're so useful. They play an important role in renewable energy production, and as methods become more advanced, their role will become even more important. Learn more about the types of thrust bearings you can use for your equipment.

Aerodynamic bearings

Aerodynamic fluid thrust ball bearings are designed to provide a thrusting motion for machinery and other applications. These bearings can carry radial and axial loads. They are self-aligning and feature two rows of balls, each with a common spherical raceway.

Tapered roller bearings

Tapered roller bearings are used in back-to-back pairs to handle axial and radial loads. Their tapered surfaces increase the thrust load capacity by reducing friction between the raceways and rollers. They can also handle high-speed applications.

Spherical roller thrust bearings

Among all thrust bearings, spherical roller thrust bearings offer the most load capacity and high load rating density. These bearings use asymmetrical spherical rollers and a cage similar to the cone-and-cup design of standard tapered roller bearings. They provide self-aligning capabilities and are useful for bearings that must withstand heavy axial thrust and moderate radial loads. These bearings are used in heavy-duty machinery. Depending on the type of application, the cage material can be either brass or steel.

Active and passive magnetic bearings

Magnetic bearings can be categorized as either active or passive. The former is a more advanced version of magnetic bearings, whereas the latter is the simplest type. Active magnetic bearings are characterized by their ability to reduce friction. This makes them ideal for many applications.

Fluid dynamic tilting-pad bearings

Fluid dynamic tilting-pad bearings are one type of bearing that utilizes a flexible pad to counteract the force of a rotating shaft. Originally developed by George Weymoth (Pty) Ltd for a centrifugal pump, the tilting pad bearing was later used in marine applications. The cross-channel steamboat Paris was the first ship to use this type of bearing, and many naval vessels used similar systems during the First World War. The tilting pad bearing was a breakthrough, because it streamlined the bulky thrust block and eliminated any problems related to maintenance.

Foil bearings

Foil bearings have a distinctive design and have advantages over conventional bearings, including low friction and high load carrying capacity. The foil-bearing system is self-starting and does not require an external pressurisation system.