Thrust Bearings Guide: Types, Features, Applications

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Table of content

1. Applications, Structure, and Function of Thrust Bearings

2. Common Types of Thrust Bearings

3. Other Types of Thrust Bearings

The Working Principle of Thrust Bearings

Thrust bearings, also known as thrust ball bearings or axial bearings, are primarily used to support or withstand axial or thrust loads. In contrast to radial bearings, which primarily handle radial loads, thrust bearings are specifically designed to handle forces parallel to the shaft's axis.

The main purpose of thrust bearings is to support or control axial loads, ensuring smooth operation of rotating mechanical components. They are commonly used in applications where axial forces are present, such as automotive transmissions, clutches, fans, pumps, and compressors.

 

(1) Balls

(2) Rollers

Thrust bearings typically consist of one or more axial balls or rollers housed within a bearing seat. Their design allows them to withstand high axial loads while maintaining low friction. A retainer is often present between the balls or rollers and the shaft to keep them properly positioned.

 

Thrust bearings are generally classified into two types: unidirectional and bidirectional.

Unidirectional bearings can only withstand forces in one direction, while bidirectional bearings can handle forces in both directions. The selection of the appropriate thrust bearing depends on the required load capacity and specific requirements of the application.

 

In summary, thrust bearings are designed to handle axial loads and provide stable operation with low friction. They play a critical role in many mechanical applications, ensuring the reliable operation of rotating equipment.

 

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Thrust Ball Bearings and Thrust Roller Bearings are common types of thrust bearings used to withstand axial or thrust loads.

 

(1) Thrust Ball Bearings

Thrust Ball Bearings are bearings that use spherical balls as rolling elements. They are composed of one or more spherical balls positioned within the bearing housing. Thrust ball bearings are typically used in low-speed applications and can handle small to medium axial loads. They offer advantages such as compact structure, easy assembly, and low cost. Common applications include automotive transmissions, fans, and household appliances.

Thrust Ball Bearing Size Chart

Bearing No. (Flat type)

Bore(d)(mm)

Outer(D)(mm)

T(mm)

r(mm)

F9-19M 9 19 6.5 - F9-20M 9 20 7 - 10 24 9 0.5 10 26 11 1 F10-18M 10 18 5.5 - 12 26 9 0.5 12 28 11 1 F12-23M 12 23 7.5 - 15 28 9 0.5 15 32 12 1 17 30 9 0.5 17 35 12 1 20 35 10 0.5 20 40 14 1 25 42 11 1

 

Thrust Ball Bearing Products 

 

 

(2) Thrust Roller Bearings

Thrust Roller Bearings are bearings that use rollers as rolling elements. Depending on the shape of the rollers, thrust roller bearings can be further classified into Thrust Needle Bearings and Thrust Cylindrical Bearings. Thrust needle bearings utilize elongated needle rollers, while thrust cylindrical bearings use cylindrical rollers.

 

Thrust Roller Bearing Products 

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Thrust needle bearings have smaller rolling diameters and are suitable for high axial load applications with limited space. They are commonly used in automotive transmissions, drive shafts, and small mechanical equipment. Thrust cylindrical bearings, on the other hand, have larger rolling diameters and higher load-carrying capacities. They are suitable for medium to large axial load applications, such as industrial equipment, metallurgical machinery, and machine tools.

 

Thrust roller bearings generally have higher load-carrying capacities and rigidity. However, compared to thrust ball bearings, they have more complex structures and are more challenging to assemble and adjust.

 

In summary, thrust ball bearings and thrust roller bearings are common types of thrust bearings. They are designed to withstand and support axial loads in various applications. Selecting the appropriate bearing requires considering factors such as load magnitude, speed requirements, space limitations, and structural complexity.

 

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(1) Cylindrical Thrust Roller Bearings

Cylindrical thrust roller bearings are designed to handle only axial loads, but they can support high-load applications and offer high axial rigidity. The cages are typically made of machined brass.

Characteristic&#;

• Designed with a straightforward structure, these bearings offer high axial load capacity and exceptional rigidity.
• Although they are not ideal for high-speed applications due to differential sliding of the rollers, cylindrical roller thrust bearings feature a compact, cage-guided design.

Applications&#;

Rotary work tables for machine tools, powdering machine rotary tables.

 

(2) Tapered Roller Thrust Bearings

Tapered roller thrust bearings feature small tapered rollers that converge at a single point on the bearing axis. The dimensions and angles of the rollers must be precisely calculated to ensure smooth rolling without skidding. Commonly used in automotive applications to support wheels, they are typically used in pairs to handle axial thrust in both directions and radial loads. They can support greater thrust loads than ball bearings due to the larger contact area but are more costly to manufacture.

 

(3) Spherical Roller Thrust Bearings

Spherical roller thrust bearings feature asymmetrical spherical rollers that roll within a washer with a spherical raceway. These bearings can handle combined radial and axial loads and accommodate shaft misalignment. Often paired with radial spherical roller bearings, they offer the highest load rating density among thrust bearings.

 

Further Reading: The Comprehensive Guide to Needle Roller Bearings

 

Why is ISK BEARINGS frequently chosen as the specified bearing brand by major international companies?

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1. With over 30 years of bearing manufacturing experience.
2. Committed to providing solutions that best fit your usage needs.
3. Whether you're a large manufacturer or a startup, you can rely on our expertise and experience.

About ISK 

Our Commitment

1. Assist customers in reducing trial and error costs and increasing production efficiency.
2. Stringently control product quality, with factories certified by IATF, ensuring bearings meet the highest production quality standards.
3. Meet RoHS, REACH environmental standards, and undergo SGS inspections.

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Need Assistance Selecting The Proper Thrust Bearings?

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Just a hunch since I don&#;t know what exact bearings are in the vise, but by separating the load and having the ball bearing handle the radial load and alignment, and the thrust bearing handle the thrust load, each is likely stronger in its given roll than a single taper roller bearing doing both roles would be.

It&#;s also possible it&#;s cheaper depending on the exact bearings that were specified. Sometimes you can get bearings for a smoking good deal because they are a super common bearing, so that may be a factor. The common and cheap tapered roller bearings often have a shallow taper angle, so they&#;re mainly for radial loads, and a little thrust load, not a lot of thrust load and a little radial load (as it would see in the vise). That could mean an expensive low volume tapered roller bearing VS 2 inexpensive high volume thrust and ball bearings.

Again, just speculation on my part based on experience and the shock I&#;ve gotten in the past for the cost of some bearings. I doubt @Fireball_Jason chose the bearing setup on a whim, so there&#;s got to be a reason, maybe even the two I suggested.